Amazon Warehouse Deals Grades Explained: What Each Condition Means Before You Buy Stock
In short
Amazon Warehouse items are returned, opened or packaging-damaged products that Amazon resells as used. They are graded Used - Like New, Very Good, Good or Acceptable, with a condition note. None of them is new. On eBay, list each item as used, photograph it yourself, describe flaws and price in the risk of a wrong grade.
Key takeaways
- Amazon Warehouse grades are Used - Like New, Very Good, Good and Acceptable, and every one of them is a used item.
- The free-text condition note tells you more about the actual fault than the grade label does.
- List Warehouse items as used on eBay with your own photos, because eBay does not allow stock photos for used items.
- eBay does not allow listing an item and then having another retailer or marketplace such as Amazon ship it directly to your buyer.
- A Warehouse discount must cover inspection, a used sale price and units that arrive worse than their grade.
What do the Amazon Warehouse deals grades mean?
Amazon Warehouse deals grades tell you how far an item has drifted from new. Amazon Warehouse is the part of Amazon that resells items that were returned, opened, or damaged in packaging or handling, usually at a discount to the new price. Every one of these offers is a used item, and the grade describes how used it is.
The grades appear as condition labels on the offer. The usual ones are:
- Used - Like New: the item looks and works like new, but the packaging may be opened, damaged or replaced.
- Used - Very Good: light signs of handling or small cosmetic marks, and the original packaging may be damaged or missing.
- Used - Good: visible wear such as scratches or scuffs, and some non-essential accessories may be missing.
- Used - Acceptable: heavy wear or damage to the item or its packaging, and accessories may be missing, while the item should still work.
Read the free-text condition note under the grade as well. It often names the specific fault, such as "missing manual" or "scratch on lid", and that note matters more to you than the label. Amazon's own wording for each grade can change, so check the condition guidance on the offer page before you buy.
On amazon.com the same kind of returned stock may appear under a different programme name, for example Amazon Resale. The grading idea is the same: a used item, a condition label and a note. Check the name and terms on the marketplace you buy from.
How do the grades compare for a reseller?
For someone buying stock to sell on eBay, each grade carries a different amount of work and risk. The table below is a practical reading of the grades, not Amazon's official definitions.
| Grade | What you can usually expect | Main resale risk | What to check on arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used - Like New | Clean item, packaging opened or replaced | Buyer expects new and is disappointed by the box | Seals, all accessories, any signs of use |
| Used - Very Good | Minor marks, packaging may be missing | Small marks not shown in your photos | Surfaces under good light, function test |
| Used - Good | Visible wear, possible missing extras | Missing parts the buyer assumed were included | Full parts list against the manufacturer's contents |
| Used - Acceptable | Heavy wear or damage, extras may be missing | Faults beyond the note, higher return chance | Every function, cables, batteries, safety of the item |
A lower grade is cheaper, but you spend more time testing, photographing and describing it. Lower grades also tend to bring more "not as described" disputes if your listing misses a flaw. For more on how Amazon's condition labels relate to new and renewed offers, see our guide to Amazon used vs new offers.
Can you buy Amazon Warehouse items to resell on eBay?
There are two very different things here, and eBay treats them differently.
Buying Warehouse items, receiving them yourself, inspecting them and then listing them from your own stock is ordinary reselling. Listing an item on eBay first and then ordering it from Amazon so Amazon delivers to your eBay buyer is something else. eBay's drop shipping policy (UK) and drop shipping policy (US) say that dropshipping from a wholesale supplier is allowed, but listing an item and then buying it from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer is not allowed. eBay may remove the listing, issue a warning, restrict activity or suspend the account.
Warehouse stock makes that second model even worse, because you cannot see the exact unit before it reaches the buyer. Whatever your model, you stay responsible for safe delivery within the time in your listing and for the buyer's overall satisfaction.
A few more rules apply when you buy to resell:
- Amazon's terms: every Amazon purchase is made under Amazon's own Conditions of Use and Sale. Read them yourself before buying in quantity.
- Business seller status (UK): eBay UK says you must register as a business seller if you sell items you bought to resell. Business sellers show full contact details and set a returns policy. See eBay's business seller policy.
- Brand rights: some brands report listings through eBay's VeRO programme even for genuine used items, often because of how the listing uses their photos or name. Our article on VeRO brands on Amazon products explains the pattern.
- Tax: reselling for profit is trading income. In the UK, gross trading income over £1,000 in a tax year means registering for Self Assessment (gov.uk guidance). In the US, income must be reported whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K (IRS guidance). Check your own situation with HMRC, the IRS or a qualified accountant.
Which eBay condition should you use for an Amazon Warehouse item?
Treat every Warehouse item as used on eBay, including Used - Like New. The item has left a buyer's hands or been opened, so calling it new invites a "not as described" return. eBay's condition options vary by category, so pick the one whose definition, shown in the listing form, honestly fits the unit in front of you.
Write the condition from the item, not the grade
Amazon's grade is a starting point. Your condition description should say what you found when you checked it: marks, missing parts, packaging state and whether you tested it. Put the most important fact (for example "no original box") in the first line, because many buyers read nothing else.
Take your own photos
eBay's picture policy does not allow stock photos for used, damaged or defective items, and photos must accurately represent the item. They must be at least 500 pixels on the longest side, with no added borders, text or watermarks. Photograph every flaw the condition note mentions and any you found yourself. Our guide to Amazon product images on eBay covers what you can and cannot reuse.
Fill in the title and item specifics
An eBay title can be at most 80 characters, so use part of it for condition words that matter to buyers, such as "Boxed" or "No Box". eBay's Best Match guidance lists listing quality and completeness among its ranking factors and advises filling in item specifics such as make, model, size and colour.
Know what a wrong description costs
Under the eBay Money Back Guarantee, a UK buyer can request a return for an item not as described within 30 calendar days of delivery, or your longer return window. You must respond within 3 business days, after which the buyer can ask eBay to step in. UK business sellers also face the 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
How do you work out whether a Warehouse deal is worth buying?
The discount has to pay for more than the item. It also has to pay for inspection, your own photos, a slower sale at a used price, and the units that turn out worse than their grade.
Example (hypothetical numbers): suppose a kitchen blender sells new on Amazon for £60. A Used - Very Good unit is offered at £45 and a Used - Good unit at £38. Similar used blenders on eBay sell for around £58 with free postage. For the arithmetic, assume a fee of 13% of the sale. That is a hypothetical rate only: check the real figure for your category on eBay's selling fees page.
| Line | Very Good unit | Good unit |
|---|---|---|
| eBay sale price | £58.00 | £58.00 |
| Hypothetical 13% fee | £7.54 | £7.54 |
| Postage | £4.00 | £4.00 |
| Packaging and inspection | £1.50 | £1.50 |
| Warehouse purchase price | £45.00 | £38.00 |
| Profit per unit | -£0.04 | £6.96 |
In this example the better grade loses money and the cheaper grade earns £6.96, but only if the Good unit really sells at £58. If its wear pushes the realistic price down to £50, the profit falls by the same £8 plus a little less fee. If one unit in five arrives unsellable, the others must cover its cost. Run these numbers with real sold prices before you buy, not after.
Two price checks help. First, compare the Warehouse price with the normal new price over time, because a "deal" against a temporarily high price is not a deal; see how to read Amazon price history. Second, check sold (not listed) prices for used units of the same model on eBay.co.uk or eBay.com.
What should you check when Warehouse stock arrives?
Inspect each unit before it is listed, and keep a short record. If a buyer later disputes the condition, your notes and photos show what you sent.
- Match the unit to the order. Confirm the model, colour and size match the offer you bought. Returned items are sometimes swapped or mislabelled.
- Compare against the condition note. Check every flaw Amazon listed, then look for ones it did not.
- Check the contents. Use the manufacturer's "what's in the box" list. Note every missing cable, charger, remote or manual.
- Test it. Power it on, run each function and charge any battery. Do not list anything that may be unsafe.
- Photograph it. Shoot every side, the contents and each flaw in good light, before packing it back up.
- Decide fast. If a unit is worse than its grade, decide whether to list it at a lower condition and price, or use Amazon's own return process for that order. Read the return terms on your Amazon order rather than assuming them.
Keep each unit's notes with its SKU, a stock reference you set for each item, so the eBay listing, the photos and the inspection record stay together.
What to do next
Before you buy your first batch of Warehouse stock, work through this short list:
- Pick two or three products you already understand and check their used sold prices on eBay.
- Read the Amazon condition note for each offer, not just the grade.
- Run a per-unit profit calculation with your real fee rate, postage and an allowance for a bad unit.
- UK sellers: confirm you are registered as a business seller and have a returns policy set.
- Prepare a simple inspection sheet: model, grade, flaws found, missing parts, tested yes or no.
- List each unit as used, with your own photos and a condition line that names the main flaw first.
- Start small, track which grades produce returns, and buy more of what sells cleanly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Used - Like New the same as new on eBay?
No. A Like New Warehouse item has been opened, returned or repackaged, so it is a used item. Listing it as new risks a not as described return, so choose a used condition and explain the packaging state.
Do Amazon Warehouse items come with a manufacturer warranty?
It depends on the manufacturer and the product, and a returned item may not carry the same cover as a new one. Check with the manufacturer before you mention any warranty in an eBay listing, and never promise cover you cannot confirm.
Why are Amazon Warehouse prices often different every time I look?
Warehouse offers are usually single units of returned stock, so each one has its own grade and price. When a unit sells, the next one may be a different grade at a different price, which makes it hard to buy the same item repeatedly.
Which Warehouse grade is best for reselling on eBay?
There is no single best grade. Higher grades need less work and bring fewer disputes, while lower grades are cheaper but need more testing and clearer descriptions. Compare the purchase price with real used sold prices on eBay for each grade before deciding.
Should I keep records of each Warehouse unit I resell?
Yes. Keep the Amazon order, the grade, your inspection notes and your photos for each unit. These records help you answer buyer questions, handle returns and work out your profit and tax figures accurately.
